Vision and Operating Model

Lena Shtern, Founder of the Center, shares: 

"The idea of establishing a center that makes holistic treatments accessible to oncology patients and their families was born during my personal struggle with the illness of my late husband, Yuri Shtern. Despite the relatively short period from his diagnosis until his passing in January 2007, I felt we succeeded in significantly enhancing the quality of life for Yuri and our entire family—every day, hour, and minute. The holistic care system I organized included many elements: from nutrition to touch therapy and meditation, writing a life story, and fostering a sense of cohesion among family and friends, both near and far. Our openness and refusal to keep the illness a secret allowed us to embark on a journey filled with love, support, joy, and even pain. In April 2007, I approached the CEO of Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Prof. Jonathan Halevy, and Yuri’s physician, Prof. Nathan Cherny, with a proposal to open the hospital's doors to a community of holistic volunteer therapists. They welcomed the idea, and in September 2007, we held the first training day for Yuri Shtern Center volunteers. Since then, we have grown and evolved tremendously."

Prof. Lawrence LeShan, author of the international bestseller Cancer as a Turning Point, wrote: 

"At the heart of the modern holistic approach lies the concept of the importance of all levels of a person's being—the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects, as well as the connections between the individual and their environment—all are vital. Ignoring them, or any part of them, is dangerous. Only when we address cancer simultaneously from the perspective of the patient, their family, and the medical staff, can we understand how to best mobilize both the healing resources of the environment and the patient's own self-healing capabilities, so that medical treatment can have its greatest impact."

As noted, the Holistic center has operated at Shaare Zedek Medical Center since 2007. In 2009, we established the clinic, which allowed us to expand our activities for hundreds of individuals living in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Our circle of therapists has grown and now includes nearly 180 volunteers. The establishment and expansion of the Yuri Shtern House clinic in Jerusalem created a unique place in the community - a place of support and guidance for patients and their families at minimal costs, enabling a proper quality of life at all stages of the illness.

The poet Zelda once wrote: "Each person has a name given by the sea and given by their death." The Yuri Shtern Center continues to preserve Yuri’s memory and our love for him in its own special way.

The Efficacy of Complementary Treatments for Cancer Patients

Numerous medical studies demonstrate that complementary medicine treatments improve the daily functioning and quality of life of cancer patients. 

The integration of conventional medicine and complementary medicine facilitates the best possible physical and emotional coping with the disease. These treatments:

• Reduce the severity of side effects caused by conventional medical treatments.
• Improve coping mechanisms for symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Strengthen the body’s innate healing powers.
• Provide emotional relief for family members and caregivers.
• Ensure equal opportunity for all cancer patients through subsidized treatment costs.

Guiding Principles for Holistic Care in the Oncology Field

According to the Yuri Shtern Holistic  Center Approach:

• A warm hand on a hurting body – Strengthening innate self-healing powers.
• Reconnecting Body and Mind – Providing supportive and present care to all parts of the aching body (breaking the sense of isolation).
• Restoring Choice – Regaining a sense of control and self-dignity.
• Strengthening Internal and External Communication – Enhancing connection with one's self, family, and surroundings.
• Providing Relief for the Support Circle.
• Supportive Care for Families and Caregivers – Guided by the principle of "Caring for the Caregiver."
• Supportive Care as a Vital Tool – Providing strength and relief even when medical options are becoming limited.

Therapeutic Techniques & Approach:

• Touch: Broad, present, enveloping, and embracing.
• Comprehensive Care: Treating both the "healthy" and the "ill" parts of the body.
• Non-specific Touch: Utilizing the finger pads and the palm of the hand for a gentle, generalized touch.
• Grounding and Intention: Providing the treatment with depth and meaning, allowing the patient to mobilize their internal healing forces.
• Adaptive Pacing: Treating only according to the patient’s capacity to contain the experience—shifting the nervous system from "Fight or Flight" to "Rest and Digest."
• Attentive Therapy: Strengthening the strong parts—tailoring the treatment to the patient's current state, energy levels, and emotional capacity.
• Core Qualities: Gentle, slow, supportive, attentive, strengthening, and calming work.
• Methodology: Indirect and generalized approach; maintaining therapeutic flexibility and adapting the treatment tools to the individual.